The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released a statement on September 21, 2018 regarding Canada’s legalization of marijuana and crossing the border.
According the statement, Canada’s legalization of marijuana does not affect CBP’s enforcement of the laws of the United States regarding controlled substances. The sale, possession, production, and distribution of marijuana or the facilitation of these continue to remain illegal under U.S. federal law. International travelers who wish to enter the United States are ultimately governed by U.S. federal law. Therefore, an international traveler crossing the border or arriving at a U.S. port of entry in violation of this law may be subject to seizure, fines, and/or arrest and impacted admissibility according to the Immigration and Nationality Act.
In general, an international traveler who “is determined to be a drug abuser or addict, or who is convicted of, admits having committed, or admits committing, acts which constitute the essential elements of a violation of (or an attempt or conspiracy to violate) any law or regulation of a state, the United States, or a foreign country related to a controlled substance, is inadmissible to the United States.”
If you have any questions about this matter, please do not hesitate to contact our office.